Young’s MMA finds its permanent new home

BANGOR – Tuesday was an emotional day for Young’s MMA. After close to a decade of temporary homes, the gym has now found a permanent one at Union Street Athletics.

“Didn’t know it was going to be this beautiful when I walked in here today,” Young’s MMA business manager, Kelly Walton said.

“It’s really exciting. It’s something new, it’s something different. It’s a lot to take in and getting used to but we’re all excited, everyone’s got good energy,” Young’s MMA fighter Aaron Lacey said.

It’s been a crazy few months for Young’s MMA owner, Chris Young. The gym’s old home, the Bangor YMCA, was condemned in April leaving it without a proper facility. Since then, the gym relocated to the old Great Skates facility on Sylvan road.

Fast forward five months later and Young’s MMA is now owns its own facility with the proper amenities.

“This is that end goal that we have been shooting for a long time, so it’s pretty cool to be here,” Young said.

Young bought USA from former owner and current landlord, Sherry Haller. The two agreed to a compromise and have brought in Young’s MMA, while keeping the identity of Union Street Athletics.

“This is the first time that we’ve been kind of meshing two gyms together so one culture colliding with another one and you never know how that’s going to go,“ Young said.

Haller thinks old members will embrace the additions.

“I think they’re like wow this is cool it’s going to be fun just to watch this all happening and then who knows maybe they’ll become a part of it,” Haller said.

No matter who walks through the doors of Union Street Athletics, a fighter or just someone looking to run a mile, it will be a place where its members feel special.

“You know you have you’re own dreams, I want to be able to run I want to be this size I want my cholesterol to be this number. All that is a dream little or big, that’s what this is about,” Walton said.